The most famous event in the state of Kentucky (USA) is the Kentucky Derby - one of the most famous horse racing festivals in North America, held at Churchill Downs, outside the city of Louisville. This exciting race always attracts a huge number of tourists to attend every year.
History of Churchill Downs
Horse racing in North America is a huge money-making industry, worth tens of millions of dollars. Racehorses in North America usually start running when they are only 2 years old. The biggest races in North America are the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont. These three races are reserved for 3-year-old horses, collectively known as "The Triple Crown".
To date, only 12 horses have won all three in a single year. They are Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977), Affirmed (1978) and American Pharoah (2015).
Horse racing in Kentucky has a rich history, dating back to 1789 when the first racetrack was held in Lexington. However, it wasn't until nearly 100 years later, in 1875, that Churchill Downs officially opened its doors and began its tradition as the "Home of the Kentucky Derby."
The founding of Churchill Downs began in 1872, when Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark traveled to England and France in 1872. Clark attended the Epsom Derby in England, which sparked his ambition to create a similar horse racing event in America. Upon his return, Clark began developing the track with the intention of showcasing Kentucky's livestock industry, and it eventually became known as "Churchill Downs."
Churchill Downs spans 147 acres with its most important structure being the Twin Spires, an architectural feature that sits atop the grandstands and has become a globally recognized symbol of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby. The spires, designed by architect Joseph Dominic Baldez and built in 1895, have always shone over the world’s most legendary racetrack.
Churchill Downs had its first official race day on May 17, 1875. For this first event, Meriwether Lewis Clark created three major races – the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks, and the Clark Handicap. These were modeled after the three premier races in England – the Epsom Derby, the Epsom Oaks, and the St. Leger Stakes. Today, Churchill Downs is owned and operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated and holds the record for the longest continuously running sporting event in the United States. In 1875, the inaugural race at the track had nearly 10,000 spectators and set the stage for an annual festival now recognized worldwide with a record attendance of over 170,000 people. Although it has changed a lot over the past three centuries, the Kentucky Derby is known as the “most exciting two minutes in sports” because each race lasts just that long.
Legend of a race track
Known as the “Bluegrass State” – home of cool grass and bluegrass music, Kentucky is home to bustling cities, endless prairies, the world’s longest cave system, the birthplace of boxing champion Muhammad Ali and, of course, KFC – Kentucky Fried Chicken. A vacation to Kentucky will give visitors exactly what they’re looking for, whether it’s listening to bluegrass music at a fair, attending concerts or relaxing at the state’s many lakes. Watching horse races is a great experience!
Known as the home of the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks, Churchill Downs hosts three thoroughbred races in the spring, September and fall.
The track stretches over a mile of dirt track with seven-lane ovals on both ends. In addition to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, which have been held here since 1875, Churchill Downs Racetrack has also hosted the Breeders Cup nine times.
To learn more about this event, visitors can visit the Kentucky Derby Museum. Since 1985, the museum has been dedicated to preserving the history of the Kentucky Derby, taking visitors on an exciting journey through the history of the derby through various exhibits and films. Visitors can witness firsthand how horses are raised and trained from birth until the time when jockeys can turn them into champions in races.
In 2007, after visiting Jamestown (Virginia) - the first British settlement in America, Queen Elizabeth of England and her husband, Prince Phillip, were there to cheer for the Kentucky Derby.
The 2017 horse race set a record with nearly $100 million in bets. Of course, the amount of money collected from tourist spending during this time is certainly much larger!
Don't forget the "specialty" of the tournament
Kentucky is famous for its bourbon or corn whiskey and the “bourbon trail” created by the Kentucky Alcoholic Beverage Association (KDA). But the Kentucky Derby is also famous for its signature sombreros and the alcoholic beverage called the “Mint Julep”.
The colorful wide-brimmed hats worn by the ladies on their heads are like a hat show of all kinds in each race. It is like an “underground race” in the stands and also a unique race that cannot be missed while the horses compete on the track!
The Mint Julep was the everyday drink of the day while working under the scorching sun on the farm. By 1939, the Mint Julep became the official drink of the Kentucky Derby, and over 130,000 Mint Juleps were consumed at Churchill Downs alone. Perhaps the Mint Julep is a "magical" drink that goes beyond the limits of a regular cocktail in a bar.
The ingredients of the Mint Julep are very simple, just a few mint leaves mixed with sugar, water, bourbon and crushed ice. It originated as a drink of people in the Southern states who do not like sophistication. Bourbon is the main ingredient and the only liquor in the Mint Julep, so it is especially important to choose a good one. At least it must be distilled for 4 to 6 years. They also say that if you come to Kentucky and do not enjoy bourbon, you are still standing in another state.
So take a sip of your Mint Julep and 'welcome to the Kentucky Derby'!
Travel information:
- The racetrack opens on April 27, 2019 and has many events: Opening night – April 27, Champions Day and Dawn at the Down – April 30, Derby week racing – April 30 and May 1, Thurby – May 2.
- There are many types of tickets depending on the race day, location, with food and beverage service or general, pre-booked and private VIP rooms. Ticket prices start from 41 USD. Buying tickets at the website: https://www.churchilldowns.com/tickets/ will save more time than waiting in line to buy at the gate.
- The Kentucky Derby Museum always organizes “Tours of Churchill Downs” starting at 8:00 a.m. every day from April 22 to May 1, visiting the racetrack for 4 hours. Tour price: 225 USD/person (Including Museum admission and lunch at a local restaurant). Address: Kentucky Derby Museum, 704 Central Street, Louisville, KY 40208 - Phone: (502) 637-1111.
- The racetrack is located near Louisville International Airport, so there are many hotels around such as: Four Points Sheraton, Ramada Wyndham, Courtyard Marriot, Hilton Garden Inn... However, during the racing season, all rooms are fully booked or the prices are quite high, from 175 USD to 246 USD. Or book a 4-day, 3-night package at Galt House - the official hotel of the racing festival through GaltHouse.com.
- Many things are prohibited from being brought into the racetrack. See: https://www.churchilldowns.com/visit/info/security-information
